Governance & Public Sector

Judicial Financial Autonomy Constitutional Amendment Bill

Guarantees that funds from the Federation Account flow directly to federal and state courts via the National Judicial Council — shielding the judiciary (especially state courts) from executive control of its budget. Among the 37 priority Sixth Alteration bills.

Awaiting
Harmonised passage by House + Senate (2/3)
Last cleared
Considered in House constitution vote · 2026-06
Status
Pending — not yet law

Where it stands

This is a bill, not a signed Act. It must clear every step below before becoming law.

Introduced in the Sixth Alteration review
2025
Done
Second reading / prioritised (37 bills)
2025
Done
Considered in House constitution vote
2026-06
Done
4
Harmonised passage by House + Senate (2/3)
pending
Pending
5
Ratification by 2/3 of state assemblies
pending
Pending
6
Presidential assent
pending
Pending

1 Background

Although judicial financial autonomy is nominally protected, in practice state judiciaries depend on governors for funding, which critics say compromises independence. This alteration ensures allocations from the Federation Account are paid directly to all federal and state courts through the National Judicial Council (NJC), rather than routed through the executive. It is one of the priority proposals in the Sixth Alteration review (grouped with judicial-efficiency measures that restrict frivolous appeals and tighten election-petition timelines). As a constitutional amendment it needs two-thirds passage in both chambers and ratification by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly before assent.

2 Key provisions (3)

01
Direct disbursement of Federation Account funds to courts via the NJC
02
Protects state courts from executive control of their budgets
03
Paired with judicial-efficiency reforms (appeal limits, petition timelines)

3 What changed in practice

Would entrench financial independence of state judiciaries in the Constitution
Reduces governors' leverage over the courts that adjudicate cases against them

4 Who it affects

State & federal judiciaryNational Judicial CouncilState governorsLitigants

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